I remember seeing Vinny say on here a few days ago that he believe Thomas Davis would be a good fit for one of our ILB position. Foreman and Sharper are gone, Greenwood is in, we still have a huge opening at the other ILB, and we are trying to revamp our LB positions with depth, youth, and speed.

I seriously believe he will be one of the best candidates still on the board at 13, and if he is there we should pick him to play ILB. It sounds like pure speculation that the Texans intend on moving Wong inside to let Peek start, and I never seen any articles saying that the Texans have moved Wong inside either idonno:

Are the Texans not high on him? This dude is a beast and has produced since his high school days all the way to his college days at multiple positions. This guy is being slept on IMO :(

OVERVIEW
Davis is regarded by many as one of the finest athletes ever produced by Georgia. Blessed with the size of a linebacker and the quickness of a cornerback, Davis has been a major force for the Bulldogs since making his way into the lineup as a freshman.

A Class AA All-State honorable mention selection by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association as a senior at Randolph-Clay (Shellman, Ga.) High, Davis was also named team MVP. The versatile athlete competed as a running back, quarterback, defensive end, defensive back, wide receiver, punter, kicker and kickoff returner at various times throughout his career.

He rushed for 1,032 yards as a senior and averaged 30 yards per reception as a junior. Davis holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a game with five and also averaged 30 yards a punt. He led the region in scoring as a senior with 108 points in the regular season and had two kickoff returns, one punt return and one fumble return for touchdowns. He also played baseball and ran track, qualifying for the state meet in the 100 meters.

Davis redshirted as a freshman in 2001, then saw action in every game as a free safety and strongside outside linebacker in 2002. He started four games during his freshman year, recording 61 tackles (39 solo) with three sacks, four stops for losses, 11 quarterback pressures, three fumble recoveries, three pass deflections and an interception.

In 2003, Davis earned All-America second-team honors from The Sporting News and was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference choice. He entered fall camp as the starting strongside linebacker, but injuries in the secondary forced him to shift to free safety before the season opener. Davis would go on to record a career-high 138 tackles (89 solo) with 4½ sacks, eight stops behind the line of scrimmage and 12 quarterback pressures. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown, caused two fumbles, returned a blocked punt for a score and intercepted a pass.

The consensus All-American and All-SEC pick again lined up at free safety in 2004. Davis was forced to sit out the Kentucky game with knee and ankle sprains, but still managed to lead the team in tackles that year. He collected 81 hits (57 solo) with three sacks, five stops for losses, four pressures, three forced fumbles, an interception and four pass breakups.

Davis opted to enter the 2005 NFL Draft rather than return to school for his final season. He finished his Georgia career with 39 games and 25 starts. Davis posted 272 tackles (179 solo) with 10½ sacks for minus-75 yards, 17 stops for losses of 101 yards and 27 quarterback pressures. He recovered four fumbles for 23 yards in returns and a touchdown, and also caused six fumbles. Davis gained 45 yards on three interceptions, 25 yards and a score on two blocked punts and deflected nine passes.

ANALYSIS
Positives: Big, strong, physical athlete with a V-shaped torso, thick chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Does everything the coaches ask, is a workout warrior and pushes others when they see his work ethic … Has good field smarts and is quick to see and read plays, especially the run … Shows quick reaction to what he sees in front of him and he is rarely caught out of position … Can lay back and play centerfield with good timing to make the play on the ball … Has good timing ability on his leaps going for the ball, showing good arm extension to get to the pigskin at its high point … Has outstanding range, doing a very good job of covering ground in a hurry … Quick to support against the run, showing good explosion when closing … Has the height and speed to match up against any tight end, running back or receiver … Big hitter who can blow opponents up if he's on track … Does a good job of breaking down, facing up and wrapping … Has enough speed to trail tight ends, running backs and slot receivers … Keeps things in front of him in zone coverage, showing very good range and takes proper angles in pursuit … Quick to step up and plug the rush lanes, showing a good feel for the support lanes and will generally take good angles to get to the ball … Davis' strength allows for him to display explosive hitting ability … Uses his hands effectively to shed blocks and will not hesitate to throw himself into the pile to sniff out the ball … Excellent blitzer who can come off the edge with explosion or use his club and rip moves to shed, stack and control to shoot the inside gaps.

Negatives: Will sometimes peek into the backfield too long, and thus struggle some to recognize a developing pass play … Plays with reckless abandon, but needs to improve his plant and drive, as he will get a little too reckless and over-pursue … Shows good lateral agility, but is a little stiff in his hips and this is noticeable when he tries to change direction when taking on the inside slot receivers … Adequate at timing his leaps, but struggles to look in the ball in over his shoulders or when his back is turned to the ball … Seems to want to attack and punish the ball carrier too much, taking away from his primary assignment -- searching out the ball.

INJURY REPORT
2004 -- Sat out the Kentucky game (11/06) with knee and ankle sprains.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Randolph-Clay (Shellman, Ga.) High, playing football for coach Jim McFather … Class AA All-State honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association … Team MVP as a senior … Played running back, wide receiver, quarterback, defensive end, defensive back, punter, kicker and kick returner at various times throughout his career … Rushed for 1,032 yards as a senior … Averaged 30 yards per reception as a junior … Holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a game with five … Averaged 30 yards per punt … Led the region in scoring as a senior with 108 points in the regular season … Had two kickoff returns, one punt return, and one fumble return for touchdowns … Also played baseball and ran track … Qualified for the state meet in the 100 meters.

I like the idea of Davis at ILB , not many ILB's run a sub 4.5 40 . IF all else fails he could be moved back to safety .

Lucky

04-17-2005, 06:34 PM

...It sounds like pure speculation that the Texans intend on moving Wong inside to let Peek start, and I never seen any articles saying that the Texans have moved Wong inside either idonno:
During an interview on one of the Houston sports radio stations, Capers said that Wong was moving inside. We really don't know if the Texans are considering Davis (at ILB or Safety). We'll find out come draft day.

awtysst

04-17-2005, 06:58 PM

Davis is a good tradeback pick. Lets say that rogers, Smith,DJ, Brown, Braylon, Mike,Benson, Caddy, Antrel, Merriman, Barron, and Wlliiamson, then we would probably choose Ware over Davis. I think if we trade with KC for their third, we will take Davis at 15. Just my opinion.

wags

04-17-2005, 07:32 PM

Davis is a good tradeback pick.

I'm not sure you could trade back and get Davis. He's visited with Carolina, KC, New Orleans, and Cincinatti. He said in an interview that the Saints seemed really interested. If you want him :whoohoo: , draft him at 13.

http://www.bullmoosephotography.com/images/20320.jpg

D-ReK

04-17-2005, 07:37 PM

We don't really know if the team is considering him at 13 or not...He's a real darkhorse at this time, but I think he'd make a good ILB here...

YodAa

04-17-2005, 07:56 PM

He would be a great fit especially since we need to reload at LBs and our SS situation isn't the best in the league, before I wanted Troy Williamson ti be #13 but with Bradford back and Armstrong being good last year, defense should be what our pick is used for especially if you pick a player like Thomas who can play 2 positions. I also think he could really work because we made Babin work last year right why can't we do it again with Thomas.

awtysst

04-17-2005, 08:01 PM

[QUOTE=wags]I'm not sure you could trade back and get Davis. He's visited with Carolina, KC, New Orleans, and Cincinatti. He said in an interview that the Saints seemed really interested. If you want him :whoohoo: , draft him at 13.

I am saying that we trade with KC. Thats 2 spots(13 to 15). If that occured, KC would jump up and take Ware. They need D help and he would be a destructive force, so it makes them to choose Ware. 14 is Carolina. They need WR/TE/ OL help before LB. I could see them taking Barnes or Jammal Brown, Williamson, maybe CLayton, or even Heath Miller. So that means at 15 the Texans could take Thomas Davis and pick up an extra third round pick from the Chiefs. Perhaps we use our third to move up in the second round and grab Baas?

LikeABoss

04-17-2005, 08:05 PM

I don't think San Diego will pass on Ware.

YodAa

04-17-2005, 08:24 PM

[QUOTE=wags]I'm not sure you could trade back and get Davis. He's visited with Carolina, KC, New Orleans, and Cincinatti. He said in an interview that the Saints seemed really interested. If you want him :whoohoo: , draft him at 13.

I am saying that we trade with KC. Thats 2 spots(13 to 15). If that occured, KC would jump up and take Ware. They need D help and he would be a destructive force, so it makes them to choose Ware. 14 is Carolina. They need WR/TE/ OL help before LB. I could see them taking Barnes or Jammal Brown, Williamson, maybe CLayton, or even Heath Miller. So that means at 15 the Texans could take Thomas Davis and pick up an extra third round pick from the Chiefs. Perhaps we use our third to move up in the second round and grab Baas?

I think thats a very good and very realistic trade that could happen and in the end if the Chiefs do take Thomas we can still get Barron Troy or Clayton. I hope that happens.

Nice Doggie

04-17-2005, 08:45 PM

"Davis hits, FUMBLE!!" :jumpbanan

I think he could be a huge playmaker.

nunusguy

04-17-2005, 08:51 PM

Maybe Davis is the surprise Cass has for us this year, just like Babin was the
surprise he sprung on us last year. That's assuming they really think Davis could be the man playing an ILB slot (not OLB). Wong doesn't want to move
inside, that's well known, but he probably would do it - but just this year
because he'd bolt as a FA after this season and be back looking for another team to let him play OLB, whether in a 3-4 or 4-3. So Wong would not represent anything but a near term solution to finding a ILB. But if we let Wong and Peek fight it out for weakside OLB, we settle on the winner, give him(whoever wins) a long term contract and along with Davis, Greenwood, & Babin we'd be set at the LB positions for some time.

aj.

04-17-2005, 10:22 PM

It sounds like pure speculation that the Texans intend on moving Wong inside to let Peek start, and I never seen any articles saying that the Texans have moved Wong inside either

I heard Capers say it on SportsRadio610 on Tuesday and I heard Casserly say it in front of about 200 people on Thursday.

MikeMc

04-17-2005, 10:54 PM

Why not draft Davis to play SS? The SS position in the Texans D is one that needs players that can play the run very well. I think it would be the perfect pick at #13. All along I have been saying OT, now that I think about it, Davis would be the perfect pick.

6 more days!!!!

I get more excited about draft day than the Super Bowl.....who's with me on that?

dalemurphy

04-17-2005, 10:58 PM

Why not draft Davis to play SS? The SS position in the Texans D is one that needs players that can play the run very well. I think it would be the perfect pick at #13. All along I have been saying OT, now that I think about it, Davis would be the perfect pick.

6 more days!!!!

I get more excited about draft day than the Super Bowl.....who's with me on that?

Between Glenn Earl and Ramon Walker we're probably fine at SS... Regarding Davis playing ILB, I think WLB in a 4-3 is a more natural transition for a converted safety. Shedding blocks against FBs in college isn't the same thing as shedding the block of 340 lb NFL guards.

keyfro

04-17-2005, 11:12 PM

i guess i must be missing something...i just don't know why we would be interested in davis...we have three young SS's to develop and at linebacker we need guys who can play now in a rotation not guys who need to learn how to play linebacker...converting DE's to rush the passer from a two point stance is a lot easier than a safty learning to shed blockers

Vinny

04-17-2005, 11:17 PM

I think converting a S to play like a linebacker is much easier than converting an end to play linebacker. Getting big men used to playing in space is not easy. Davis played inside the box often in Georgia. I don't think the conversion would be tough. We don't ask our inside linebackers to shed blockers often anyway.

To answer the thread title....Who knows what the team is thinking? How do you know we aren't considering him?

ArlingtonTexan

04-17-2005, 11:21 PM

I think converting a S to play like a linebacker is much easier than converting an end to play linebacker. Getting big men used to playing in space is not easy. Davis played inside the box often in Georgia. I don't think the conversion would be tough. We don't ask our inside linebackers to shed blockers often anyway.

To answer the thread title....Who knows what the team is thinking? How do you know we aren't considering him?

Actually, I want to say in one the 10,000 reports I have read this draft season that Davis played LB very early in UGA career...please don't ask me where.

wags

04-17-2005, 11:37 PM

we have three young SS's to develop and at linebacker we need guys who can play now in a rotation not guys who need to learn how to play linebacker...converting DE's to rush the passer from a two point stance is a lot easier than a safty learning to shed blockers

Insert RB in the place of SS, and then ask why Ced Benson? If you can get a good player then you should grab him, and Davis is good. Would anyone like to argue that we are stronger at SS then we are at RB? Another intriguing aspect to Davis is he can play two positions, SS and LB. Trust me when I say this Keyfro, Davis does not need to be taught how to play linebacker. He played linebacker in college, before switching to safety, and even worked out as linebacker in spring drills this past year. We could do a lot worse on draft day than to get Thomas Davis.

"He just has such a great combination of size, speed and explosion that most athletes don't have," Georgia defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said.
"The other thing is that he brings a certain lift to our defense, a certain identity that the other players start relating to.

"He changes the way you think," said Tennessee linebacker Kevin Burnett, who was a safety coming out of high school. "You're like, 'If I tiptoe across the middle, I might not play any more the rest of the day.' That's just the fact of the matter."

"Thomas is a freak," Pollack marveled. "His burst is disgusting. I would trade with him in a heartbeat. I've never seen a kid with as much athletic ability."

Actually, I want to say in one the 10,000 reports I have read this draft season that Davis played LB very early in UGA career...please don't ask me where.

I heard that he played LB early on at UGA too...

YodAa

04-17-2005, 11:53 PM

Picking this guy would be like getting a Cell phone wit a camera, you have it for one purpose but if you need it for the 2nd purpose woopa! its there! Thomas Davis would be a great pick trust me I can just feel that he is the last piece to our playoff puzzle.

YodAa

04-17-2005, 11:54 PM

Hes gonna be ROY DROY(unless they rob him like DROB) and the steal of the draft

ocd

04-18-2005, 12:40 AM

i say get him at 13 and keep him at safety because he is a playmaker and that's what i want (but my preference is pollack). get another olb at 47 to either push/replace or rotate with peek...then o line...but i'm just flowing w/the thread.

Holden135

04-18-2005, 04:19 AM

I don't understand why everyone thinks we are set at SS already. Im not saying Earl and Walker arent ok. But they are never going to be all pro's or superstars at he ss position. Davis on the other hand does have the potential to become that. With the way the nfl is going now you have to have a good secondary and i think upgrading our ss position from avg. to possibly great would be a great move.

D-ReK

04-18-2005, 04:42 AM

This is an interesting article (http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/broncos/article/0,1299,DRMN_17_3705627,00.html) from the Rocky Mountain News:

There is only one thing tougher to find than a can't-miss, headed-to-Canton player in this year's NFL draft.

And that's a consensus about who that might be in this crop of players.

"There's no question about that," Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. "You could see in the fall when I was out scouting. . . . This thing is all over the place."

Yet the Rocky Mountain News dived in anyway. To find the top 100 players in the draft, regardless of position or team needs, scouts and personnel executives around the league were interviewed during the past six months. The digital video rolled and the players were interviewed.

In the end, University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith ended up in the top spot, followed by Georgia safety Thomas Davis. No. 100? Oklahoma wide receiver Brandon Jones.

TD is the second best player in the draft, huh? :hmmm:

D-ReK

04-18-2005, 04:48 AM

I don't understand why everyone thinks we are set at SS already. Im not saying Earl and Walker arent ok. But they are never going to be all pro's or superstars at he ss position. Davis on the other hand does have the potential to become that. With the way the nfl is going now you have to have a good secondary and i think upgrading our ss position from avg. to possibly great would be a great move.

How do you know that Earl won't ever appear in a Pro Bowl? It's hard to gauge Earl's career based on a season in which he started 9 games even though he wasn't expected to play much...He hasn't proven to be a difference maker yet, but who's to say he won't be in the future? Supposedly Cass had a second round grade on him, so he'll get his shot next year...If we draft Davis, it will be to play ILB...

D-ReK

04-18-2005, 08:04 AM

If we want him, then I think trading back would be getting too cute, since Carolina could easily take him and if NO wants him bad enough, they will trade in front of us...No need to split hairs, if he's there at 13 and we want him, just take him then...